I recently wrote an article about podcasts for the Global Math Department newsletter. I had more to write about podcasts, so I'm continuing my thoughts here. There are lots of really well done podcasts focused on mathematics and education and I wanted to share the best of what I've been listening to on my daily commute to and from work. I have just enough of a commute to get through about a podcast each day. I really enjoy how a good podcast make a dull commute alone in a car feel like a road trip with friends.

One new podcast that I started listening to is called Infinite Insights. Duane Habecker and Maggie Peters started this podcast to discuss articles and research regarding mathematics education and how it applies to your classroom. I really enjoyed listening to their first podcast about using math for your Day 1 routines.

Five Fabulous Podcasts Episodes

Instead of just recommending a bunch of podcasts, I wanted to hone in on specific episodes that I think you'll enjoy (assuming you're into mathematics). Check these out:

On Average from 99 Percent Invisible. ﻿Roman Mar﻿s discusses how the the built world was not designed for you but for the average person.

For the Love of Numbers from Radiolab. In this episode, ﻿Alex Bellos﻿ recalls being asked about his favourite number. He talks about the genesis of his interest in favourite numbers and how people throughout history have ascribed human-like qualities to numbers.

Dave Coffey & John Golden from Math Ed Podcast. Samuel Otten talks with a pair of his former professors about how they use blogs and Twitter in their professional work as mathematics educators.

So what makes a good podcast? I used four criteria for selecting the podcasts above: Length (I find that 30-40 minutes is about right for me), Mathematical Interest (I like to learn new things about math or education), Content Density (I like a podcast to get to its point and not linger on idle chit chat), and Production Value (a good microphone and a sound booth help).

I'd really like to hear about your favourite mathematics or education podcasts. Even better, I'd like to hear about a great episode of your favourte podcast. Please let me know what I've been missing out on.